Grammy and I had a blast being with you one-on-one at our house.  You stayed a few hours… we had lots of fun.

After a peanut butter sandwich and some cheese, we started playing. I showed you how to pull the green wooden frog pull toy around… and you did.

Photos were captured of you sitting in one of the chairs. I tried to duplicate your brother’s famous Harry Potter book photo shoot, but you didn’t have the patience… places to go & things to see.

I brought you into the master bathroom where you never go… When I said “come on Jack, come this way,” you followed me into a new world of shiny floors, mirrors and Beatles music coming over the ceiling speakers. I’m pretty sure you thought it was a spectacularly cool place to hang out.

Back in the Great Room, I remembered how you love trucks, so I put fresh batteries in the yellow tow truck and red fire engine.  I showed you how to activate the little white buttons on top of the cab roofs… you paid close attention and then pressed.

HONK HONK! said the yellow tow truck.

WOOO WOOO! exclaimed the red fire engine.

At first you were surprised… you gave us a look that said “What the heck… since when do those things do that?”

Then a big smile transformed a perplexed look into a wide mouthed Jack grin.  Your Mom said you love loud noises, so no wonder you loved it. You kept pressing the buttons over and over.

We played with the red wooden car parked in the play doll house garage. You liked it when I pushed it far across our wooden floor.  You walked over to get it and brought it back, repeating the process several times.

Grammy said my name to you one time and then it happened…you repeated her and said:

Papa

That was the first time anyone’s heard you say that word… it was a moment I’ll always remember!

Despite the excitement I felt when you said my name, I must accurately note that “Papa” was not your first word… that was “Momma” followed by “Daddy” and then one of your favorites…

Go. Go.

I always bring you to the kitchen floor clock and bring your face even with its face saying “Tick Tock.”  You tried to repeat it and soon will say it.

Today you met Grammy & me at Flatbread Pizza in Portsmouth for lunch.  Grammy pointed out the lights above and said “Lights.”  You repeated “Lights,” saying it another three times for good measure.

It’s so cool imagining your brain cells spark and illuminate, making the connection between  objects and names… it’s all coming together FAST for you. Your verbal progress is fun to witness… like walking, it’s one of the pivotal transformational experiences that turn a baby into a toddler.

Sixteen months old… already.  Where is the time going?  Pretty soon you’ll be walking AND talking a blue streak.

Thanks for lighting up my world smiley Jack.